The Whole Spiel: Funny essays about digital nudniks, seder selfies and chicken soup memories - Paperback

by Ellen Scolnic (Author), Terry Laban (Illustrator), Joyce Eisenberg (Author)

If you call it a mechayeh when you take off your Spanx,

Say, "Darn, I've got bubkes" when your checking account is empty,

And stock the refrigerator with all their favorites when the kids come home ...

... then you'll recognize yourself, your bubbe, and the entire mishpuchah in "The Whole Spiel," a collection of funny essays that takes a heartfelt look at modern life as a member of the tribe.

Read about the great shnecken vs. rugelach battle, the newly discovered Jewish summer holiday of Simchat Squash, and why yesterday's nebbish is today's millionaire tech nerd.

"From the women who taught us the difference between a shlep and a shlub - stories that will make you laugh our loud about all of our mishegoss. Read and enjoy - I did!"- Lu Ann Cahn, Emmy-winning journalist and author of "I Dare Me"

"I like the way the Word Mavens think - and write!" - Cassandra Krivy Hirsch, author of "Under the Linden Tree"

AWARDS: Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Winner, Multicultural NonfictionNext Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist, Humor/ComedyInternational Book Awards: Finalist, HumorPennsylvania Press Club: 1st Place, Humor/Nonfiction

Author Biography

Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic are The Word Mavens. They are the authors of the "Dictionary of Jewish Words" (JPS 2006). They write about Jewish holidays, family life, food and more for The Forward, InterfaithFamily.com and Jewish newspapers across the country; their essays on current events are frequently seen on The Philadelphia Inquirer Commentary Page. They blog, tweet, and interact with their fans at TheWordMavens.com.

Joyce Eisenberg served as editor of Special Sections for Philadelphia's Jewish Exponent newspaper for 15 years and has edited Holocaust memoirs and a series of kosher cookbooks. She is the co-author with Dr. Ted Eisenberg of "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths" and a longtime contributor to Fodor's travel guides.

Ellen Scolnic writes about parenting, travel and topics of Jewish interest. Her humorous essays and feature stories have appeared in newspapers including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Parents Express, The Christian Science Monitor, Main Line Life, Washington Jewish Week and more.

Terry LaBan's cartoons, illustrations and infographics have appeared in numerous publications. He's worked in the comic book industry as both artist and writer. He created the nationally syndicated daily comic strip "Edge City," which ran for 15 years.